Mineral chemistry and origin of the olivine-rich zone of the Palisades sill

Authors

Kevin Xavier Chau, Florida International University

Document Type

Thesis

Degree

Master of Science (MS)

Major/Program

Geosciences

First Advisor's Name

Gautam Sen

First Advisor's Committee Title

Committee Chair

Second Advisor's Name

Andrew Macfarlane

Third Advisor's Name

Rosemary Hickey-Vargas

Fourth Advisor's Name

Grenville Draper

Date of Defense

7-15-2009

Abstract

The Palisades Sill contains an olivine-rich zone that has attracted scientific attention for over one hundred years. Despite the amount of focus, a definitive explanation for the origin of this layer has not been reached. Through the use of detailed petrographic analyses and electron microscopy, the aim of this study was to collect data on mineral phases from the Palisades Sill in order to better understand the history. Extremely broad ranges in mineral compositions indicate that the olivine-rich zone evolved through in situ equilibrium crystallization, implying that it was injected once the main body of the sill had already been emplaced and partly solidified, a result that confirms certain previous work.

Identifier

FI14060148

Recommended Citation

Chau, Kevin Xavier, "Mineral chemistry and origin of the olivine-rich zone of the Palisades sill" (2009). FIU Electronic Theses and Dissertations. 2116.
https://digitalcommons.fiu.edu/etd/2116